Notebook: Team Virginia Rules With 15 Aau Awards

Fifteen members of team Virginia earned All-American honors at the AAU Wrestling Elementary National Duals Championship in Kingsport, Tenn., April 15-16.

The team, composed mainly of Peninsula kids, posted a 6-2 record to finish in fifth place out of 14 teams.

"That's the best we've ever done at this event, which we've been going to for several years," said head coach Steve Pittman.

J.J. Weiss of the Hampton Jaguars, competing at 85 pounds, and Collin Dozier of Great Neck (75) finished in second place to top Team Virginia's showing. The tournament was for competitors in the first through fifth grades. All- American honors went to the top six places in each weight class.

Andrew Williams of the Kecoughtan Raptors (95 pounds), Jarret Holden of the Jaguars (132), and Gregory Todd of Gloucester (70) finished in third place.

Team Virginia opened with a 91-6 victory over the host Kingsport squad, then shut out Grundy Gold 102-0. Its two losses were to North Carolina (49-26) and Illinois (49-20).

STAR GYMNASTS. Two Atlantic Academy of Gymnastics standouts earned state titles recently at the Level 7 meet in Falmouth.

Tara Svadeba put on a show in floor exercises, winning the event with an impressive score of 9.675 in the age 10 class. In the age 13 competition, Kristen Hansen took first place on beam with a score of 9.40. ...

Kori Agee emerged a multiple winner to lead the Newport News Flipateers at a meet at Ocean Tumblers April 16. Agee, competing in the 12-14 age group, won firsts on bars (9.1), floor (9.175) and in all around (35.275).

FREE THROWS. Joshua Payne of Hampton made a good showing by making 21-of-25 free throws but finished in a tie for seventh out of 12 contestants in the Elks "Hoop Shoot" National Free Throw Contest in Springfield, Mass., on Saturday.

Payne, who connected on 24-of-25 shots to win the recent Southeast Central Region title, couldn't match that in the nationals while competing in the 12-13 age division. The title went to Sean Flohr of Glenwood Springs, Colo., who hit 25-of-25.